Bottle crate



Aug. 22, 1950 D. L. TICHENOR 2,519,300

BOTTLE CRATE Filed March 4, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Na. Z

IN V EN TOR. fax 4. 7/0/00? lsxyg/wmmga/vg 50 D. TICHENOR 2,519,800

BOTTLE CRATE Filed March 4, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 77 f/a. 9"

' INVEN TOR. flaw 4. 7709mm? Patented Aug. 22, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a bottle crate which is compact and is adapted to receive a large number of bottles in proportion to its dimensions.

Second, to provide a bottle crate having the above characteristics which is well adapted for stacking, for supporting on shelves or supportingrails of trucks or in storage.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical longitudinal section of a bottle crate embodying my invention on line l! of Fig. 2, the crate having one bottle therein and being shown in relation to supporting shelves or ledges indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentaryend elevation.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, one bottle being illustrated in the crate.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in vertical section illustrating details of the structure and the stacking relation of the crates.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view of a slightly modified structure.

The crate illustrated is designed to receive twenty one-half pints of the square type, that is, having flattened sides, those illustrated having substantially rounded corners.

The crate of my invention comprises a bottom frame 5, top frame 2, and intermediate frames 3 and 4.

The bottom frame 5 is of slat stock disposed vertically edgewise. The top and intermediate frames are of round stock, the top frame being desirably of somewhat heavier gauge stock than the intermediate frames. The top frame is of substantially less external dimensions than the bottom frame.

I provide looped corner members designated generally by the numeral 5,, these corner members being formed of wire stock looped upon itself and they are disposed with their eight ends 6 upwardly. The corner members are disposed diagonally of the corners of the frames with their arms l secured to the end members of the frame and their arms 8 secured to the side members of the frames. The arms l have inward offsets 9 below but adjacent to the top frame and in- Ward offsets IE above but adjacent to the bottom frames, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The corner members are welded to the frames, the

Welds however not being illustrated as that is common practice in the manufacture of bottle crates. The arms 8 of the corner members are inclined inwardly from the upper int rmediate frame 3. The vertical wall slats i i are Welded to the inner sides of the several frames.

'The compartment or partition members 52 and I3 are disposed in crossed relation and desirably Welded at their crossing points. The longitudinal members i2 terminate in eyes it which are engaged with the inward loop-line offsets [5 of the end members N5 of the intermediate frames. The transverse members terminate in similar eyes engaging the side members ll of the intermediate frames. However, it is not objectionable to have the ends of the transverse members project slightly as is shown in Fig. 3. The forming of the offsets 15 in the end members of the intermediate frames brings "the ends of the longitudinal partition members within the vertical plane of the outer sides of the end members of the bottom frame and also of the top frame which is, as stated, of somewhat less dimension than the bottom frame.

The crate is provided with a bottom made up of longitudinal member-s l B and transverse members 1'9 disposed in crossed relation and desirably welded together at their crossing points, the ends of "these bottom members being welded to the upper edge of the bottom frame.

The outer longitudinal bottom members 2!? terminate short of the end members of the bottom frame, as shown in Fig. 2, so as not to interfere with the stacking of the crates as shown in Fig. 4. The corner members projecting above the top boarder frame can provide stacking lugs 6.

One or more vertical struts or uprights 25 are provided, these being secured to certain of the bottom members and to the partition members to reinforce and sustain loads that may be imposed on the partition members.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Big. 5, the arms 1 of the corner members are not inwardly offset at their lower ends. The crate is of less height, being designed to receive smaller bottles and the intermediate frames and consequently their partitions are closer together.

Crates embodying my invention are strong and rigid and well adapted for storage in relatively small spaces or on shelves or ledges indicated at 22 with which certain trucks are equipped and also for storage purposes.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate modifications ,nd adaptations to other types of bottles and to other dimensions as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A bottle crate comprising vertically spaced bottom, top and intermediate frames, the bottom frame being of flat stock disposed vertically edgewise providing flat inner Surfaces of substantial vertical width, looped corner members having downwardly diverging arms disposed diagonally of the corners of the frames with their bight ends upwardly and projecting above the top border frame to constitute stacking lugs and with their arms secured to the inner sides of adjacent side and end members of the frames, the arms secured to the end members of the frames having inward offsets below but adjacent to the top frame and above but adjacent to the bottom frame, said inward offsets adjacent the up er ends of said diverging arms inwardly offsetting the upper ends of said arms to facilitate crates being readily stacked with the lower frame of an upper crate disposed over the inwardly offset upper ends of the arms of a lower crate and to facilitate the portions of said arms between the upper inward offsets thereof and the bottom frame to lie substantially in vertical planes closely adjacent and parallel to the vertical side walls of bottles contained in the crate, the end members of the top and bottom frames being secured to said arms within the offsets thereof and being disposed in vertical alinement, the arms of the corner members secured to the side members of the frames being inwardly inclined from the intermediate frame, the lower ends of the arms of the corner members being spaced to receive the stacking lugs of a lower crate of a stack, vertical wall slats secured to the inner sides of the frames, the lower ends of said vertical slats and the lower ends of said diverging arms of the looped corner members being secured in substantial overlapping relation to said flat inner vertical surfaces of said bottom frame, longitudinal and transverse partition members disposed in crossed relation and connected at their ends to said intermediate frames, and crossed bottom members mounted on and weldingly secured to the upper ed es of the bottom frame and providing a grid-like bottom below the partition members, said flat stock of the bottom frame being edgewise of substantial vertical width to space said. bottom members secured to the upper edges thereof substantially above the lower edge of the crate.

2. A bottle crate comprisin vertically spaced bottom. top and intermediate frames, the bottom frame being of flat stock disposed vertically edgewise providing fiat inner surfaces of substantial vertical width. looped corner members having downwardly diverging arms disposed diagonally of the corners of the frames with their bight ends upwardly and projecting above the top border frame to constitute stacking lugs and with their arms secured to the inner sides of adjacent side and end members of the frames, the lower ends of the arms of the corner members being spaced to receive the stacking lugs of a lower crate of a stack, vertical wall slats secured to the inner sides of the frames, the lower ends of said vertical slats and the lower ends of said diverging arms of the looped corner members being secured in substantial overlapping relation to said flat inner vertical surfaces of said bottom frame, longitudinal and transverse partition members disposed in crossed relation and connected at their ends to said intermediate frames, and crossed bottom members mounted on and weldingly secured to the upper edges of the bottom frame and providing a, grid-like bottom be low the partition members, said flat stock of the bottom frame being edgewise of substantial vertical width to space said bottom members secured to the upper edges thereof substantially above the lower edge of the crate.

3. A bottle crate comprising vertically spaced bottom, top and intermediate frames, the bottom frame being of flat stock disposed vertically edgewise providing flat inner surfaces of substantial vertical width, looped corner members having downwardly diverging arms disposed diagonally of the corners of the frames with their bight ends upwardly and projecting above the top border frame to constitute stacking lugs and with theirarms secured to the inner sides of ad- J'acent side and end members of the frames, the arms secured to the end members of the frames having inward offsets below but adjacent to the top frame and above but adjacent to the bottom frame, said inward offsets adjacent the upper ends of said divergent arms inwardly offsetting the upper ends of said arms to facilitate crates being readily stacked with the lower frame of an upper crate disposed over the inwardly offset upper ends of the arms of a lower crate and to facilitate the portions of said arms between the upper inward offsets thereof and the bottom frame to lie substantially in vertical planes closely adjacent and parallel to the vertical side walls of bottles contained in the crate, the end members of the top and bottom frames being secured to said arms within the offsets thereof and being disposed in vertical alinement, the arms of the corner members secured to the side members of the frames being inwardly inclined from the intermediate frame, the lower ends of the arms of the corner members being spaced to receive the stacking lugs f a lower crate of a stack between them, vertical slats secured to the inner sides of the frames, the lower ends of said vertical slats and the lower ends of said diverging arms of the looped corner members being secured in substantial overlapping relation to said fiat inner vertical surfaces of said bottom frame, sets of vertically aligned longitudinal and transverse partition members having their ends secured to the intermediate frames, and bottom members mounted on and weldingly secured to the upper edges of the bottom frame and providing a bottom below the partition members, said flat stock of the bottom frame being edgewise of substantial vertical width to space said bottom members secured to the upper edges thereof substantially above the lower edge f the crate.

4. A bottle crate comprising vertically spaced bottom, top and intermediate frames, the bottom frame being of fiat stock disposed vertically edgewise providing flat inner surfaces of substantial vertical width, looped corner members having downwardly diverging arms disposed diagonally of the corners of the frames with their bight ends upwardly and projecting above the top border frame to constitute stacking lugs and with their arms secured to the inner sides of adjacent side and end members of the frames, the arms secured to the end members of the frames having inward offsets below but adjacent to the top frame and above but adjacent to the bottom frame, the end members of the top and bottom frames being secured to said arms within the offsets thereof and being disposed in vertical alinement, vertical slats secured to the inner sides of the frames, said inward ofi'sets adjacent the upper ends of said divergent arms inwardly offsetting the upper ends of said'arms to facilitate crates being readily stacked with the lower frame of an upper crate disposed over the inwardly offset upper ends of the arms of a lower crate and to facilitate the portions of said arms between the upper inward offsets thereof and the bottom frame to lie substantially in vertical planes closely adjacent and parallel to the vertical side walls of bottles contained in the crate, the lower ends of said vertical slats and the lower ends of said diverging arms of the looped corner members being secured in substantial overlap-ping relation to said flat inner vertical surfaces of said bottom frame, sets of vertically aligned longitudinal and transverse partition members having their ends secured to the intermediate frames, and bottom members mounted on and weldingly secured to the upper edges of 6 the bottom frame and providing a bottom below the partition members, said flat stock of the bottom frame being edgewise of substantial vertical width to space said bottom members secured to the upper edges thereof substantially above the lower edge of the crate.

DON L. TICHENOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,193,980 Bowen Aug. 8, 1916 1,991,770 Pawsat Feb. 19, 1935 2,025,769 ODell Dec. 31, 1935 2,157,276 Barrie May 9, 1939 2,317,044 Faulkner Apr. 20, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 35,738 France Mar. 27, 1930 409,810 Great Britain May 10, 1934 

